Sauvie Island’s Topaz Farm has been hosting live music outdoors during — hopefully — the tail end of the pandemic, showcasing just how ideal farm properties are for small concerts. Outside of the music and the picturesque setting, Topaz offers picnic tables, a food cart, farm animals, and farm-to-table meals from resident chefs Janelle and Christian Ephrem. Also, every weekend chef Doug Adams of (Top Chef and acclaimed restaurant Bullard) serves seasonal items and fried chicken at the farm. July concerts, like a She Shreds magazine showcase and another show with Damian Jurado, have sold out quickly. Portland’s own Mama Bird Recording Co. has a show coming up with tickets available, as well as Oakland-based artist/songwriter Thao, and Sacramento’s Tré Burt, who’s signed to the late John Prine’s label. For more outdoor venues like Topaz, readers should check out Side Yard Farm, which hosts live movies, comedy, and music on occasion.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down venues across the city, beloved St. Johns dive bar the Fixin’ To regularly hosted Portland rock bands and rappers in its back room — including ones who grew up in the neighborhood. During the pandemic, the Fixin’ To developed a creative setup called “the fish bowl,” where live bands play essentially backwards: Instead of facing the main dance floor, they play facing out the glass windows behind them, which look onto the bar’s patio. That way, customers can sit out on picnic tables over Frito pie and a beer, catch a band, and socially distance. The venue is starting to reintroduce traditional indoor shows and will transition completely indoors by August. Check out the website for a list of shows, including Weezer cover band Geezer, synth-y Launderette, and harder rock like No Year.

The famous Kenton Club has been hosting shows consistently on the back patio during the pandemic, making the show’s music available for all of downtown Kenton’s enjoyment. But now that COVID restrictions have eased up, shows happen both out on the patio at 6 and then again inside at 10 p.m. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the Kenton Club hosts DJs sponsored by the bar’s neighbors, Specks Records and Tapes. The bar and restaurant’s menu is short but varied, boasting things like veggie spring rolls, chicken strips, zucchini sticks, two-for-$5 corn dogs, and fish ‘n chips.

Wandering down Mississippi, Portlanders will often find a place to listen to music, whether it’s a touring act at Mississippi Studios, a singer-songwriter outside Stem wine bar, a local folk band at Mississippi Pizza Pub, or a DJ at Psychic. But jazz fans generally turn right off the main drag to visit the 1905, the place where you can stroll in, grab a pizza, and listen to some serious jazz. In a glitzy, polished dining room, customers sit at tables over Manhattans and listen to acts like the Ben Fowler quintet, Portland jazz pianist Ezra Weiss, or the Kareem Kandi World Orchestra. During the pandemic, many of those shows were live-streamed, but the venue is now letting customers sit inside and watch it live; check out the website for reservations and a current schedule.

Owned and operated by local musicians, one of Portland’s most popular venues is definitely Mississippi Studios, which conveniently shares an entrance with Bar Bar, and a no-brainer for after-show festivities — Bar Bar’s deep-fried ravioli, juicy burgers and fries, plentiful plant-based options, and spacious patio appeal to just about everyone. Speaking of after-parties, coming up on the Mississippi live music calendar is a free “Welcome Back: Open House” event, with a number of musicians and the premiere of a short film; afterward, the venue will throw an after-party featuring Portland-based experimental and improvisational music project THMPR. Later this summer, the venue will host locally beloved artists like rock trio Gaytheist, folk-punk-rock band Casey Neill and the Norway Rats, as well as soul singer Sarah Clarke (Dirty Revival) and psychedelic indie-rock band Federale.

For decades, Rose City’s old-school steakhouse was one of those places where people would sip Old Fashioneds and watch Jazz in the adjacent lounge. That hasn’t changed: Clyde’s still regularly hosts musicians like Portland Idol CJ Mickens and the “godfather of the Portland jazz jam” Ron Steen. Most of Clyde’s shows are posted as Facebook events; the move is to grab a slab of prime rib and garlic mashed potatoes beforehand, heading to the dance floor with an after-dinner cocktail.

Newer on the scene, this Gresham jazz club hosts an impressive slate of local musicians, from bebop trios playing jazz standards to funkier fusion acts. Musicians like LaRhonda Steele, Renato Caranto, and Ryan Meagher roll through to play tributes to Coltrane or debut new compositions, while visitors cozy up to the bar or grab seats at two-tops. Tickets are available on the website.

Downtown Portland bar Kelly’s Olympian is a favorite among motorcyclists, with several motorcycle parking spots right out front, lots of bike-themed decor, and even some bikes hanging from the ceiling. Many folks probably wouldn’t guess that there’s another side to Kelly’s — a door to the left of the entrance leads to a room just behind the back of the main bar, where Kelly’s hosts everyone from rappers to comedians to indie alt pop acts. Kelly’s is also home to one of Portland’s most reliable hip-hop concert series, The Thesis, which highlights local hip-hop acts every First Thursday. The Thesis show typically has its own small bar inside for easier access to the watering hole, and drink sponsors like Bacardi create cocktails named after each headlining artist. Kelly’s regulars know the bar has a solid selection of drafts and cider, a seriously tasty chicken strip basket, tots (of course), as well as fried mac ‘n cheese balls. Upcoming shows include excellent locally based artists YAWA (FKA Amenta Abioto) and Dreckig.

Pre-pandemic, The Goodfoot was known as one of the prime spots to dance to funk and soul. The venue reopened the doors of its pool hall, restaurant, and gallery on July 8, and will welcome people back for music and dancing in August. Early August will see guitarist Scott Pemberton, as well as Get On Up with DJs Takimba and Saucy who’ll be spinning funk, hip-hop, and soul. Mid-month sees stalwart dance night DJ Anjali and the Incredible Kid playing a “soundclash” of Indian rhythmic club music (“Taal”) and tropical Latin American beats. The kitchen churns out specials like stuffed potato skins, mini chicken chimichangas, smoked mushroom and Swiss burgers, pork schnitzel sandwiches, and more.

Jack London Revue is the basement jazz bar venue underneath the Rialto Poolroom Bar and Cafe in the historic Alder Building in downtown. Head to the back of the bar and down the stairs, and you’ll find this speakeasy-style, warmly lit room that books anything from jazz to R&B, hip-hop to cabaret-style shows. Upcoming shows feature musicians like brass-man Max Ribner, Alzonzo Chadwick, locally based powerhouse singer Saeeda Wright, and drummer, singer, and producer Kassa Overall; while the calendar centers jazz, there’s usually some shows dedicated to local hip-hop acts, like a show on August 7 featuring Mic Crenshaw, Swiggle Mandela, Kunu Bearchum, and more.

Lake Oswego’s Tavern on Kruse is one of the ritzier spots to catch a live band, with its sleek fountain, lengthy list of pinot noir, and menu of dry-aged ribeyes and racks of lamb. Through July, Tavern on Kruse hosts jazz musicians every night of the week, be it a Brazilian jazz trio, more funk-inflected acts, or jaw-dropping vocalists. Regulars include the George Colligan trio, Chance Hayden, and the Christopher Brown quartet. See the full calendar here; it’s best to make a reservation to guarantee a seat during the show.